Storage-battery-filling apparatus.



No. 821,623. I PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

T. A. EDISON.

STORAGE BATTERY FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATIOK FILED NOV. 2, 1904.

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witmcoo- T ffmu .4. 624M 9;) gitomzgu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.THOMAS A. EDISON, OF LLEWELLYNPARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO EDISON STORAGE BATTERY COMPANY, OF W EST ORANGE, NEW JElt- SEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

proved storage STORAGE-BATTERY-FILLING APPARATUS- No.821,623.- I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 1906.

To (all whom it 'IIMLI/ ('mtcl'rn' Be it known that I, THOMAS A. EDIsoN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Llew- I ellyn Park, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Storage Battery Filling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a simple and effective apparatus which has been designed for filling the cans or receptacles of my imbatteries, the idea being to provide means for giving an indication when the proper-level of the solution has been reached. It will be seen, however, that the apparatus can obviously be employed for introducin solutions into batteries of other types, w ether secondary or primar as well as for the filling of other receptac essuch as tanks, boilers, stills, &c.with more or less conducting solutions.

My objects are to provide a simple, compact, and efiicient apparatus for the purpose, arran ed to give a positive notification when the so ution or other liquid reaches the proper level and of such a character as not to be likely to get out of order.

To this end the invention consists of an electrode de ending -within the receptacle and arrange in a suitable circuit ada ted to be closed through the solution or ot er liquid when the latter makes contact with said electrode, thereby energizing a controllingmagnet arranged to erform any desired notification, such as t e rin ing v0t a bell, the dropping of a shutter, or t e operation of a valve, rheostat, switch, orother device. Preferably introduced. In the present instance this re-:

ceptacle is illustrated as one of the metal cans of my improved storage battery, these ably,

the electrode in question -sur-' rounds or is formed by the filling-tube.

cans being formed of nickel-plated steel with corrugated sides to make them as still as possible. At the to of the can is a hollow lug 2, through whic 1 the alkaline solution is introduced. The filling apparatus consists of a curved tube or electrode 3, made of metal and adapted to enter the plug 2 and connected with an extension 4, made, preferof rubber, leading to a tank or other source of su ply. (Not shown.) A handle 5 is provide having preferably any suitable arrangement of valve for controlling the flow of liquid. I show a plunger 6, Fig. 2, operating to constrict the flexible tube 4 and actuated by a yoke 7, connected with a thumbpiece 8. S rings 9 surround the legs of the yoke 7 to Surrounding t e lower end of the tube or electrode 3 is an insulating-bushing 10, arranged to fit easily within the plug 2. .Carried by this bushing are one or more (preferabl three) contact-fingers 11, arranged to ma e contact with the top of the can and also to limit the distance to which the tube or electrode 3 may be introduced within the can.

Since the lower ends of the fingers 1 1 make contact with the can below the top of the plug 2, there will be 'no danger of any spark which may form between said fingers and the can igniting any explosive gases which may be evolved from the electrolyte. A circuit 12, including a battery 13 and a controllingrnagnet 14, extends to the contact-fingers 11 and to the metallic tube or electrode 3, as

shown, which circuit will be closed when the solution makes contact with the lower end of the tube or electrode 3, as will be obvious. The magnet 14 actuates any desired indicating mechanism.-as, for example, a bell 15, as shown. The operation of the device will be readily understood. The tube or electrode 3 is introduced within the can and the valve actuated, allowing solution to enter the can. As soon as the solution reaches the lower end of the tube or electrode 3 to make contact therewith. the circuit will be closed through the solution to energize the magnet ee the valve normally closed.

14, and thus actuate the indicating mechanism. It would of course be possible to pass a current of sufiicient strength to ring the bell 15 through the stream which issues from the tube 3; but in practice a voltage will be used LII . whereby the tubular electrode maybe passed forth.

which is too low to ring the bell until the so- 7 lution inside the receptacle rises up to or very nearly to the bottom of the said tube 3. The valve will then be closed and the fillingtube 3 withdrawn.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a filling apparatus, the combination of a supply-tube, a nozzle connected thereto, a air of conductors connected to op osite p0 es ofa source of current, one of said conductors being electrically connected with said nozzle and the other conductor being carried by said nozzle but insulated therefrom and being electrically in circuit with the liquid withln the receptacle to be filled, and means for controlling the flow of liquid through said supply-tube, substantially as set forth.

2. n a filling apparatus, the combination of a metallic receptacle, a supply-tube, a-nozzle connected thereto, a pair of conductors connected to op osite poles of a source of current, one of sai conductors being electrically connected with said receptacle and theother with said nozzle, whereby the circuit will be closed through the liquid within the receptacle, substantially as set forth.

3. In a filling apparatus, a handle carrying a (pair of rigid electrodes electrically connecte to opposite poles of a source of, current, one electrode being elongated and extending below the other, whereby the first electrode may be passed through an opening in a receptacle and the other electrode contact with the wall surrounding said opening, substantially as set forth.

. 4. In a-filling apparatus, a handle carrying a air of rigid electrodes electrically connected to opposite poles of a source of current, one electrode being in the form of a pipe or tube extending below the other electrode,

through an opening in the receptacle and the other electrode contact with the metal surrounding said opening, substantially as set 5. The combination with a metallic receptacle into which a conducting solution is introduced, of a tubular electrode within the l receptacle but insulated therefrom and through which the solution is introduced into the receptacle, a controlling-magnet and a l circuit having terminals at said electrode and 1 receptacle res ')ectively, whereby said circuit Wlll be closed when the solution makes contact with said electrode, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a metallic receptacle, of a tubular electrode adapted to enter the receptacle but insulated therefrom and through which a conducting solution is introduced into the receptacle, a controllingmagnet and a circuit terminating at said elec trode and receptacle respectively adapted to be closed when the solution makes contact with said electrode, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with a metallic receptacle, of a tubular electrode adapted to enter the same and through which a conducting solution is introduced within the receptacle, an insulating-sleeve surrounding the electrode, contact-fingers carried by said sleeve and making contact with said receptacle, a controlling-ma net and a circuit terminating at said electro e and contact-fingers respectively, substantially as set forth.

8. In a filling apparatus for metallic storage-battery cans, the combination of a tubular electrode, an insulating-bushing surrounding the same, contact-fingers carried by said bushing, a controlling-magnet, and a circuit terminating at the contact-fingers and electrode respectively, substantially as set forth.

9. In a filling apparatus for metallic storage-battery cans, the combination of a tubular electrode, an insulating-bushing surrounding the same, contact-fingers carried by said bushing, a controlling-magnet, a circuit terminating at the contact-fingers and electrode respectively, and a valve controlling the flow of solution through said tubular electrode, substantiall as set forth.

10. In a filling apparatus for metallic stora e-battery cans, the combination of a handle, a valve in said handle, a tubular electrode carried by said handle, an insulatingbushing surrounding said electrode, contactfingers carried by said bushing, a controllingmagnet and a circuit terminating at said contact-fingers and electrode respectively, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 1st day of November, 1904.

THOMAS A. EDISON.

Witnesses:

FRANK L. DYER, MINA C. MACARTHUR.

ICC 

